Lacazette, Barry set Premier League records as Arsenal beat West Brom
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal recorded a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in Monday night’s Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Club-record signing Lacazette netted a goal in either half – including one from the penalty spot – as the Gunners moved into seventh position in the Premier League table.
It was not all one-way traffic, however, with West Brom having a huge penalty appeal turned down in the early stages, before missing a number of excellent chances during an open first 45 minutes.
Alexis Sanchez and Lacazette both started for Arsenal as head coach Arsene Wenger selected an attacking XI, but Mesut Ozil was only on the bench following a knee problem.
As for West Brom, Gareth Barry became the Premier League’s all-time leading appearance maker on 633 – moving past former Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs in the process.
Jake Livermore was also back in the Baggies XI after a break from football, while Hal Robson-Kanu and Jay Rodriguez were the two attackers in what was a 5-3-2 formation.
Arsenal’s first sight of the West Brom goal came in the fifth minute when Sanchez stood over a free kick close to the away side’s penalty area, and the Chilean’s effort dropped just wide of Ben Foster’s post.
West Brom should have had a penalty in the eighth minute when Shkodran Mustafi clearly brought Rodriguez to the ground with a rash challenge, but the referee seemingly played an advantage. Rodriguez’s low effort was then turned onto the post by Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, before Livermore fired wide from the rebound.
Arsenal then came close down the other end through Aaron Ramsey after the Welshman met a cross from Hector Bellerin, but the midfielder’s effort just missed the crossbar during an entertaining spell at the Emirates.
The opening goal was always coming as the tempo continued to rise, and it was Arsenal that made the breakthrough in the 20th minute when Lacazette headed home from close range after Foster had only partially saved a Sanchez free kick.
Nacho Monreal had a half-chance to make it 2-0 Arsenal in the 27th minute after breaking into the West Brom box, but the Spaniard could not escape the attentions of Allan Nyom and Ahmed Hegazi.
Ramsey was next to come close after darting into the West Brom penalty area and rounding Foster, but the Baggies goalkeeper managed to save the Welshman’s effort from a wide position. The Gunners then had a penalty shout of their own as Grzegorz Krychowiak appeared to tug Sanchez’s shirt inside the box.
West Brom had a golden chance to level the scores in the 38th minute after Krychowiak broke towards the Arsenal box before delivering a super cross onto the head of Rodriguez, but the forward’s effort was cleared off the line by Monreal as the Gunners escaped another dangerous moment.
Robson-Kanu was next to come close for West Brom as he headed wide of the post late in the first period, before Rodriguez missed another opportunity from close range as the Baggies somehow entered the interval behind.
3 – A. Lacazette is the first Arsenal player to score in his first 3 home league apps for the club since Brian Marwood in Sept 1988. Gunner. pic.twitter.com/9Q8pwxwTEc
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 25, 2017
The Gunners were comfortably in control but Rodriguez missed a terrific chance to snatch an equaliser before half-time, heading Grzegorz Krychowiak’s cross beyond Cech only to see Nacho Monreal hook his rather weak effort off the line.
Lacazette came close to sending Arsenal 2-0 ahead early in the second half after collecting a smart flick from Elneny, but the striker’s effort was deflected just over the West Brom crossbar by Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal continued to enjoy more of the ball at the Emirates, but the match headed for its final 30 minutes still at 1-0, which led to frustration and concern among the home supporters.
James Morrison and Salomon Rondon both came off the West Brom bench just past the hour, but there was no movement from Arsenal as the likes of Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Ozil waited for their chance.
Arsenal had their second of the night in the 67th minute, however, when Lacazette found the bottom corner from the penalty spot after Nyom had bundled Ramsey to the ground inside the penalty area.
Lacazette had a decent chance to complete his hat-trick 20 minutes from time after collecting a brilliant pass from Sanchez inside the West Brom box, but the Frenchman missed the post from a wide angle.
Giroud and Ozil both came off the Arsenal bench in the 83rd minute, but aside from a Granit Xhaka effort which missed the crossbar, chances were few and far between late on as Lacazette’s double proved the difference between the two teams on the night.
Arsenal will now switch their attention to the Europa League as they prepare to travel to BATE Borisov on Thursday night. Next up for West Brom, meanwhile, is a Premier League clash at home to Watford on Saturday afternoon.
Key Opta Facts:
– Arsene Wenger has won all 11 of his home games vs Tony Pulis, including all 10 in the Premier League (one FA Cup game at Highbury in 2005).
– West Brom have lost more away Premier League games versus Arsenal (10) than against any other side.
– Each of Arsenal’s last seven home wins in all competitions have come on a different day of the week, with Monday’s victory completing the seven-day set.
– Gareth Barry made his 633rd appearance in the Premier League, setting a competition record in the process.
– Alexandre Lacazette scored Arsenal’s 100th penalty goal in the Premier League – only Liverpool (112) and Chelsea (107) have scored more penalties in the competition than Arsenal.
– Tony Pulis became the eighth manager to take charge of 100 games for two different Premier League sides (West Brom and Stoke) – the other managers to achieve this are Sam Allardyce, Mark Hughes, Kevin Keegan, Roberto Martinez, David O’Leary, Martin O’Neill and Harry Redknapp.
